Washington, Rabi'II 19, 1437, Jan 29, 2016, SPA -- The U.S. economy likely slowed significantly in the final three months of 2015 and the picture seems to have grown gloomier in the first few weeks of 2016, AP reported. Sinking oil and stock prices and weakness in China and other emerging markets have raised worries about their impact on the U.S. economy. The Federal Reserve noted that concern this week with a cautious assessment of the economy. On Friday, the government is expected to estimate that the U.S. economy grew at a minuscule 0.9 percent annual rate in the October-December quarter, according to economists surveyed by data firm FactSet. It would be less than half the growth rate of the previous quarter. A key reason was likely a broad effort by businesses last quarter to reduce their overhang of unsold goods. Another factor is expected to be a widening trade deficit: Further strength in the dollar has made American-made goods more expensive and thus less competitive overseas. In addition, economic troubles in regions from Europe to China have depressed U.S. exports. --SPA 11:40 LOCAL TIME 08:40 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/w